By Sarah A LoBisco, ND

Can you believe it?!

The winter snow will soon be gone (eventually for us in Upstate NY) and we are preparing for spring!

Welcome March, and hurry up!

It’s the end of another month, you know what that means?!

February’s TOP integrative health stories are here!

Browse on and gain some empowering insights to guide your health decisions. This information just might be what may impact you or your loved ones.

Below are some summaries on the topics of nutrition and nutrigenomics, health &lifestyle, and drug updates from my compilation of medical journals, blogs, and newsletters this month.

. . .

Let’s start out with some practical information.

Many of my clients are trying to clean up their diet and stay healthy, yet they still enjoy the dining-out experience. Can you have it both ways?

What to Do When Eating Out

Dr. Mercola gives tips on how to avoid the chemical-laden food that has become a norm in restaurants. Foods can contain anti-foaming agents, preservatives, GMOs, hidden sugars, MSG, and swapped ingredients labeled incorrectly.

Dr. Mercola writes:

Due to all of the added sugars and other ingredients, studies have shown that eating fast food just twice a week can make you gain 10 pounds, but even more shocking it DOUBLES your risk of developing insulin resistance.² Insulin resistance, as I’ve discussed on many occasions, is one of THE primary driving factors behind many chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Ideally, you want organic, fresh, and local foods. One trick is to call the restaurant ahead and ask just what will be on your plate.

Here’s a guideline of questions to ask from Dr. Mercola’s article:

Where does the bulk of their food come from (A CAFO? A food wholesaler? An organic farm?)
Is the beef grass-fed?
Do they use organically raised, free-range chicken?
Is the fish wild-caught?
Are organic ingredients available?
Are full ingredients lists for menu items available?
Do they use MSG?
Does the sauce (or any other condiment) contain high fructose corn syrup?
Do they use genetically modified (GM) ingredients? (Remember, typically anything containing corn, soy, canola, or any of their derivatives are GM varieties UNLESS certified organic)

Mercola, J. Eating Smart When Dining Out. Mercola.com. 2/4/13. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/02/04/eating-out.aspx

Brain Anti-Aging!

I’ve written in the past about some scary statistics on the increasing prevalence of dementia.

Here are two studies that may put your mind at ease.

The first highlights the benefits of L-Carnosine and a compound found in green tea, EGCG:

Our results indicate that the combined administration of EGCG and L-Carnosine would benefit the treatment and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases by reducing the neuronal damage caused by oxidative stress.

Davinelli S, Di Marco R, Bracale R, Quattrone A, Zella D, Scapagnini G. Synergistic effect of L-Carnosine and EGCG in prevention of physiological brain aging. Curr Pharm Des. 2012 Oct 18. [Epub ahead of print] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23092324

Green Tea and Alzheimer’s

Top Health News

New Lyme Tests, Is there Validity?

A new chapter in the Lyme disease controversy opened in September 2011 when Advanced Laboratory Services, Inc, announced the commercial availability of a new culture test for Borrelia burgdorferi. Some Lyme patient advocacy groups and physicians began encouraging patients to have the $595 test, but others are concerned about the early commercialization of the still-unvalidated test. This concern may result in changes to how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates so-called “homebrew” or laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).

Physicians on all sides of the Lyme disease arena agree that a reliable culture test for active Borrelia infection would be a breakthrough. They differ on whether it is a good idea to market a blood test to consumers before it has been validated, peer-reviewed, published, reviewed by the FDA, or widely vetted by infectious disease experts with experience in Borrelia infections.

….

Dr. Burrascano told Medscape Medical News that the validity of the culture test was established using blood samples provided by physicians and that the identity of Borrelia was confirmed by its ability to grow in Borrelia-specific media, by its characteristic appearance on darkfield microscopy, by reacting to published Borrelia-specific polyclonal and monoclonal immunostains, by DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 different loci, and by direct DNA sequencing. These data are so far unpublished.

Kelly, J. Lyme Culture Test Causes Uproar. Medscape Medical News. Jan 30, 2013. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778482?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&spon=34

How Blood Types Affect Clotting

Links between blood type, clotting (thrombosis), and its opposite, bleeding, may have to do with a blood component called von Willebrand levels, which are associated with bleeding, Dr. Blumberg explains. People with type O blood have the lowest von Willebrand levels (which make them more likely to bleed); those with AB blood have the highest levels (making them likely to clot); and people with type A and type B blood fall in between

Jaimie Dalessio. AB Blood Types May Have Higher Risk Of Blood Clots, Study Finds. Huffington Post. 2/6/13. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/05/ab-blood-type-clot-risk_n_2623132.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

When to Choose Integrative Medicine vs. Conventional?

An Interview with Andrew Weil, MD

TZ: How can someone know when it is time to use a conventional therapy and when it is time to use a CAM therapy?

AW: Symptoms that are unusually severe, persistent, or out of the range of your normal experience warrant immediate medical attention by a conventional medical doctor. A dose of common sense helps, too: Do not rely on CAM therapies for a health condition that conventional medicine can manage well.

Physical trauma is a good example of a clinical circumstance where conventional medical care is unquestionably indicated. If I were involved in a serious automobile accident, I would hope that paramedics would be called. I would want to be transported directly to an emergency care facility, in a modern hospital, not to the office of a massage therapist or acupuncturist. That said, once out of danger, I might use the massage and acupuncture resources to help speed up the natural healing process.

There are a few other clinical situations where a conventional medical approach is definitely warranted: Acute surgical and medical emergencies such as a ruptured appendix or heart attack, treatment of bacterial infections, and the diagnosis of complex medical problems. Conventional medicine, however, is generally less effective in the treatment and cure of viral infections, chronic degenerative diseases, chronic pain and most forms of allergic or autoimmune disease. These types of clinical scenarios often respond well to carefully-chosen CAM modalities.

Explore diet and lifestyle changes or CAM therapies individually, allowing enough time — usually six to eight weeks — to experience benefit and judge results, before moving on. If symptoms worsen or fail to subside, schedule an appointment with your conventional doctor, for evaluation.

Zellick, T. Integrative Medicine: Get the Best of Both Worlds for Your Loved One. 1/25/13. Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tory-zellick/integrative-medicine_b_2544404.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living

Addiction to Cell Phones-It’s a Real Issue!

Cell phone use and text messaging can become as addictive as any other behavior, such as compulsive shopping, gambling, and overeating, new research shows.

Investigators from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, found that both materialism and impulsiveness drive addictive tendencies toward cell phone use and text messaging.

“People understand substance addictions. They understand that we can take a drug that impacts parts of our brain and reinforces the pleasure principle, so we’re addicted to that particular substance. But it’s no different with behavioral addiction,” said lead investigator James Roberts, PhD, in a video clip in which he discussed the study.

Cell phone use and text messaging can become as addictive as any other behavior, such as compulsive shopping, gambling, and overeating, new research shows.

Investigators from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, found that both materialism and impulsiveness drive addictive tendencies toward cell phone use and text messaging.

Harrison, P. Overuse of Cell Phones: An Addiction Like Any Other? Medscape Today-Psychiatry. 11/30/12. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/775426

Endocrine Disruption and Chemicals of Environment

..and there is also mounting evidence for effects of these chemicals on thyroid function, brain function, obesity and metabolism, and insulin and glucose homeostasis.

The Endocrine Society called for timely action to prevent harm (Diamanti-Kandarakis Et al., 2009), and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, based in the United States of America (USA), put forward a consensus statement calling for action regarding endocrine disruptors and their effects (Skakkebaek et al., 2011).

In 2012, UNEP and WHO, in collaboration with international experts, have taken a step forward by supporting the development of a main document on endocrine disruptors, including scientific information on their impacts on human and wildlife health, scientific developments over the decade since publication of the IPCS (2002) report and key concerns. The collaboration also included the development of the present summary report, which is aimed at decision-makers and others concerned about the future of human and wildlife health. The key concerns and main messages from the three chapters of the main document are also presented in this summary

Ake Bergman, Jerrold J. Heindel, Susan Jobling, Karen A. Kidd, and R. Thomas Zoeller. State of the Science of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals 2012. United Nations Environment Programme and World Health Organization, 2013. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/78102/1/WHO_HSE_PHE_IHE_2013.1_eng.pdf

NUTRIGENOMICS TOP NEWS

Fish Oil and Muscle Gain

++note: for quick reading I am wetting your appetiate with summaries. FO=fish oil.

Forty-five women (aged 64 ± 1.4 y) were randomly assigned to 3 groups. One group performed strength training only (ST group) for 90 d, whereas the others performed the same strength-training program and received FO supplementation (2 g/d) for 90 d (ST90 group) or for 150 d (ST150 group; supplemented 60 d before training). Muscle strength and functional capacity were assessed before and after the training period.

CONCLUSIONS: Strength training increased muscle strength in elderly women. The inclusion of FO supplementation caused greater improvements in muscle strength and functional capacity.

Rodacki, C, et al. Fish-oil supplementation enhances the effects of strength training in elderly women (abstract). Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Feb;95(2):428-36. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.021915. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Sperm Health and Infertility

An omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is enriched in testicular membrane phospholipids, but its function is not well understood. The Fads2 gene encodes an enzyme required for the endogenous synthesis of DHA. Using Fads2-null mice (Fads2?/?), we found in our preceding studies that DHA deficiency caused the arrest of spermiogenesis and male infertility, both of which were reversed by dietary DHA.

Deficiency in the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Pathway Results in Failure of Acrosome Biogenesis in Mice. Manuel Roqueta-Rivera, Timothy L. Abbott, Mayandi Sivaguru, Rex A. Hess, & Manabu T. Nakamura. Deficiency in the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Pathway Results in Failure of Acrosome Biogenesis in Mice (abstract). Biology of Reproduction. October 1, 2011 vol. 85 no. 4 721-732. Published online before print June 8, 2011, doi: 10.1095/?biolreprod.110.089524

CoQ10 and Infertility

Low seminal plasma concentrations of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) have been correlated with impaired sperm parameters, but the exact mechanism remains of dominating interest. This randomised, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of CoQ10 on catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and F2-isoprostanes in seminal plasma in infertile men and their relation with CoQ10 concentration.

Nadjarzadeh, A., Shidfar, F., Amirjannati, N., Vafa, M. R., Motevalian, S. A., Gohari, M. R., Nazeri Kakhki, S. A., Akhondi, M. M. and Sadeghi, M. R. (2013), Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant enzymes activity and oxidative stress of seminal plasma: a double-blind randomised clinical trial. Andrologia. doi: 10.1111/and.12062

PSA, CoQ10 and Fish Oil

The main objective of the present study was to determine the potential of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids or coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) to alter serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in normal healthy men. A total of 504 healthy men with serum PSA level ? 2·5 ng/ml were recruited into the study. . .

The present study demonstrates that dietary supplements containing EPA, GLA or CoQ₁₀ may significantly affect serum PSA levels.

Mohammad Reza Safarinejada1 c1, Nayyer Shafieia1 and Shiva Safarinejad. Effects of EPA, ?-linolenic acid or coenzyme Q10 on serum prostate-specific antigen levels: a randomised, double-blind trial. British Journal of Nutrition / FirstView Article, pp 1-8. 11/30/12. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114512004783

Top 10 for Reducing Breast Cancer

Including lots of nutrient-rich vegetables in your diet is associated with a decreased risk of a specific type of breast cancer, according to a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The study, conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, included analyzing data from 20 different studies, where 993,466 women were followed for 11 to 20 years. The researchers analyzed the women’s fruit and vegetable consumption as well as their breast cancer development — along with their type of breast cancer — throughout the years.

Vegetable Consumption Linked With Lower Risk For Estrogen Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer. Huffington Post. Posted: 02/03/2013. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/03/vegetables-breast-cancer-estrogen-receptor-negative_n_2582802.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living#slide=more255525

Magnesium Decreases Colon Cancer Risk

In the meta-analysis, every 100-mg/d increase in magnesium intake was associated with 13% lower risk of colorectal adenomas (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.00) and 12% lower risk of colorectal cancer (RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.97).

Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that higher intakes of dietary magnesium are associated with lower risk of colorectal tumors. The consumption of magnesium-rich foods may be a new avenue to explore further in the search for cancer-prevention strategies.

Wark, P, Lau, R, Norat, T, & Kampan, E. Magnesium intake and colorectal tumor risk: a case-control study and meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. September 2012. doi: 10.3945/?ajcn.111.030924

TOP STORIES IN DRUG UPDATES

Mipomersen Approved by USA, but NOT EMA

The decision follows a recommendation from the FDA’s Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, which voted 9 to 6 in favor of approval of mipomersen for this indication in October.

Those who voted against approval did so because of uncertainty as to the risk/benefit trade-off for mipomersen; there were concerns about the variability in LDL lowering seen in the clinical trial of mipomersen in HoFH, as well as worries about malignancies, immune-mediated reactions, and hepatic abnormalities in a range of trials, including the risk of liver toxicity, for which the product carries a boxed warning.

For these reasons, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) last month recommended against approval of mipomersen for the treatment of homozygous and severe heterozygous FH; it also said it did not believe that the cardiovascular benefit of the agent, in terms of reducing cholesterol levels, outweighs its cardiovascular risk: cardiac side effects such as angina and palpitations were also seen in clinical trials.

Lisa Nainggolan. Mipomersen Approved in US for Homozygous FH. FDA Approvals > Heartwire. Jan 30, 2013. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778465?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&spon=34

Heart Trouble with Mind Trouble

Conclusions: This study confirmed a modest prolongation of QT interval with citalopram, and identified additional antidepressants with similar observed risk. Pharmacovigilance studies using electronic health record data may be a useful method of identifying potential risk associated with treatments.

Castro, A. QT interval and antidepressant use: a cross sectional study of electronic health records. BMJ. 2013; 346: f288. Published online 2013 January 29. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f288. PMCID: PMC3558546

Diclofenac and CVD Risk

TORONTO — The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac, a drug that is frequently used for the treatment of pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, is associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular complications and should be removed from essential-medicines lists (EML), according to a new review [1].

Michael O’Riordan. Widely Used Diclofenac Associated With Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Events. Heartwire: Medscape News Today. Feb 13, 2013. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/779232?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&uac=146852BY&spon=34

Hydrocortisone May Be Harder to Get

Drugs containing hydrocodone combined with other analgesics may soon be subject to more stringent prescribing requirements if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepts the recommendation of its expert panel to reschedule the widely used drug.

….

The vote sends a strong message to physicians and the public about the abuse potential of hydrocodone combination products, many of the panel felt. Several mentioned the fact that death rates from hydrocodone combination drug overdoses have tripled during the last 2 decades

“Clearly, the data show the magnitude of the epidemic of misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription narcotics,” said Elaine Morrato, DrPH, from the University of Colorado School of Public Health, in Aurora, in explaining her yes vote.

Lowry, F. FDA Panel Calls for Greater Restrictions on Hydrocodone. Medscape Medical News > Psychiatry. Jan 28, 2013. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778275?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&spon=34

Oxytrol For Women

The FDA has approved Oxytrol for Women, the first over-the-counter treatment for overactive bladder in women 18 and older. The condition affects more than 20 million American women, according to Merck, the drug’s manufacturer.

It will still only be available in prescription form for men. Oxytrol helps relax the overactive bladder muscle that leads to symptoms such as the sudden need to urinate and leaking of urine.

(NOTE: Learn about Integrative Approaches and Pelvic Floor Strengthening Exercises on my January 2013 Top Reads Link.)

Kathleen Doheny. FDA OKs First OTC Remedy for Overactive Bladder. FDA Approvals > WebMD Health News. January 25, 2013.

New Drug for Asthma, but Watch for Cancer

There was a safety signal for neoplasms, with 3 patients (0.3%) in the 10-?g olodaterol group developing small cell lung cancers compared with no patients in the placebo group. Panel members agreed with company officials that the difference may be a result of chance and/or an imbalance in preexisting neoplasms between the 2 groups but urged the FDA to monitor for neoplasms specifically in postmarketing surveillance.

Tucker, M. FDA Panel Votes in Favor of Olodaterol for COPD. Medscape Medical News. Jan 30, 2013. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/778459?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&spon=34

Drugs on Watchlist for FDA

Potential Signals of Serious Risks/New Safety Information Identified by FAERS, July to September 2012

Product Name: Active Ingredient (Trade) or Product Class	Potential Signal of a Serious Risk/New Safety Information	Additional Information*
Ofatumumab (Arzerra, GlaxoSmithKline)	Viral infections	FDA is continuing to evaluate this issue to determine whether the current labeling, which contains information about viral infections, is adequate.
Lacosamide (Vimpat, UCB)	Neutropenia
Dalfampridine (Ampyra, Acorda Therapeutics)	Anaphylaxis
Banana Boat Sunscreen Spray (Energizer Holdings)	Flammability	The manufacturer, Energizer Holdings, announced on October 19, 2012, that it was voluntarily withdrawing its continuous-spray Banana Boat sun care products from the market because they could ignite on the skin if they come into contact with a source of ignition before they are completely dry.

Lowes, R. Three Drugs Added to FDA Watch List. Medscape Medical News. Feb 12, 2013. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/779152?src=wnl_edit_medn_wir&uac=146852BY&spon=34

Now that your all read out, time for my saratoga.com on bone health!
No worries, I’ll give your eyes a break, it provides a link to learn more through your ears.

February 2013 Top Holistic Health Reads

Top Health News

NUTRIGENOMICS TOP NEWS

TOP STORIES IN DRUG UPDATES

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About the Author: Sarah Lobisco

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